Scribd part 4
UNLESS there is an immediate diplomatic breakthrough, the joint
Israeli-American aggression against Iran launched on Saturday
morning has the potential to create a maelstrom across the Middle
East and beyond. Already hostilities have spread, as the Iranians,
along with lobbing missiles at Israel, have also hit American military
facilities in several Gulf states, just as they threatened they would
in the run-up to this unfolding disaster.
For Iran’s rulers, this is the third time they have been double-
crossed by US President Donald Trump. The first time was when Mr
Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, the second when
America joined Israel in the 12-day war last year. On Thursday, after
talks in Geneva, it had seemed that things might be moving towards
a resolution, particularly on the nuclear issue, with the Omani
foreign minister saying that “peace … is within our reach”. But
clearly, the US and Israel had other ideas.
Mr Trump has referred to himself as a man of peace, claiming that
he has stopped eight wars, and saved tens of millions of lives by
intervening during the armed clash between Pakistan and India last
year. While the jury is still out on these claims, his recent actions
contradict this impression of himself: in other words, Mr Trump has
proved to be a warmonger where Iran is concerned.
Apparently, Iran was ready to reassure the global community that it
would not develop nuclear weapons, as the Omani foreign minister
observed, though discussion on Tehran’s ballistic missiles was off
the table. Moreover, the US kept shifting the goalposts,
variably criticising Tehran’s nuclear policy, its crackdown on internal
dissent and its support to armed groups in the region. This indicates
that the talks were a ruse to buy time, and the US-Israeli combine
was never serious about peace. Now they have a war they have long
sought to fight, and how this ends is anybody’s guess.
Aiming for regime change in Iran, Mr Trump has said Iranian defence
capabilities with be “annihilated”. But regime change may not be as
easily achieved; and disaster will surely follow as it did in
Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq. Already there have been civilian
casualties reported in Iran, with local media saying a girls’
elementary school in Hormozgan has resulted in several fatalities. Is
this the ‘help’ Mr Trump promised to send the Iranian people?
If the conflict continues, there will be much more bloodshed, as well
as worldwide economic chaos as the region is key to global oil and
gas supplies, and a trade hub. An immediate ceasefire is required,
along with a commitment to respect the territorial sovereignty of all
states. But judging by their behaviour, it is unlikely that Tel Aviv and
Washington will listen to the voice of reason.
Israel and the United States have launched a “pre-emptive attack”
against Iran, pushing the Middle East into a renewed military
confrontation and further dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution
to Tehran’s long-running dispute with the West.
What we know so far:
US strikes on Iran reportedly underway, according to a US official
Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei moved to a secure location for safety
Iran, Israel, Iraq shut airspace
FO issues travel advisory for Pakistanis in Iran
US President Donald Trump confirmed, “Short time ago, US began major
combat operations in Iran.”
He added, “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating
imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
“The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran to remove
threats to the State of Israel,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said.
Katz has “declared a special and immediate state of emergency throughout
the country”, read a statement from his ministry.
A US official told Reuters that US strikes were being carried out by air and
sea. Another US official told Reuters that the US military was expected to
carry out a “multi-day operation” against Iran.
An Israeli defence official told Reuters that the operation was being carried
out in coordination with the US.
The attack, coming after Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day air war in June,
follows repeated US-Israeli warnings that they would strike again if Iran
pressed ahead with its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
An Israeli defence official said the operation had been planned for months in
coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks
ago.
Iranian state television confirmed what it described as an “aerial aggression
by the Zionist regime” on the country, following a series of blasts in Tehran.
The Fars news agency said “seven missile impacts were reported in the
Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts” of Tehran, where the residence of
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is located.
However, an official confirmed to Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran
and had been transferred to a secure location.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was also “safe and sound”, state media
reported.
“President Masoud Pezeshkian is safe and sound and has no problems,”
the IRNA news agency reported, alongside the Mehr and ISNA agencies.
Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran by AFP journalists, and two plumes of
thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.
Western powers have long accused Iran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons
— something it has repeatedly denied, insisting its nuclear programme is
solely for civilian purposes such as energy production.
Published on march 1 , two different articles
